Bird shelter well full of sick birds: “Never had bird flu virus in the summer”

The bird sanctuary in Ostend is not taking any risks now that the bird flu is spreading among seabirds. “We get reports of dead animals from all over the coast, and that’s about dozens and dozens,” says Claude Velter of the Bird Sanctuary.

“Never in the Summer”

To prevent the shelter itself from becoming a breeding ground for the virus, birds brought in are now given their food in a quarantine room. And that also includes a mouth mask, gloves and protective suit.

In the last week there have been dozens of reports of sick and dead gulls and terns, especially around Nieuwpoort. “That never happened in the summer and certainly not with these species, so that is unique.”